THE TEAHOUSE OF THE AUGUST MOON Opens 2/1 at Laurel Mill Playhouse

The Teahouse of the August Moon was adapted in 1952 by playwright John Patrick from the novel of the same name by Vern Sneider. The play opened in New York City at the Martin Beck Theater on October 15, 1953. It was a Broadway hit, running 1027 performances and winning many awards including: the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best American Play of the Year, the Pulitzer Prize in Drama and the Tony Award.

Produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service. Performances run weekends from February 1, 2013 through February 24, 2013 with Friday and Saturday evening performances at 8 p.m. Sunday matinees are on February 10 and 24 at 2pm.

Tickets are $15 for general admission. Admission for students (18 and under), active duty military and seniors (65 and over) is $12. For reservations, please call 301-617-9906 and press 2. For further information visit the web site at www.laurelmillplayhouse.org or contact Maureen Rogers at maureencrogers@gmail.com or 301-452-2557.

As told by McClain in the New York Journal-American: "...pursues the career of an Army of Occupation officer stationed in a remote town in Okinawa. His duty is to teach Democracy to the natives, and there is a stern and stupid Colonel breathing down his neck to insure the strict enforcement of the Manual of Occupation. But the young officer has not prepared himself for the ingenious charm of the people. Within a matter of days he finds himself the owner of a Grade A geisha girl; the materials sent him for the construction of a school are being used to build a teahouse and he himself, in an effort to improve the economy of the village, has taken to selling the principal product, potato brandy, to all the surrounding Army and Navy Officers' clubs. The gala opening of the teahouse is, of course, the moment chosen by the Colonel to make his inspection of the village, and the ensuing eruption is volcanic. The officer is sure to be court martialed, the Colonel demoted. But when life is darkest, word arrives that Congress, that old standby, has received reports that this is the most progressive village on the island, and all is forgiven."